A/N: This chapter is dedicated to the asshole who invented senior projects. If anyone knows what I'm talking about. You understand me completely. It's really a horrible thing, believe me. Anyways, here's the next installment. Enjoy!

Chapter Twenty-Eight: Kisses and Attacks

"I hate Professor Jareb more than Snape." stated Sirius coldly at breakfast that Thursday. James threw his friend a very sympathetic look.

"Don't we all?" Ellie rhetorically asked, having no knowledge of where Sirius's true loathing for the man sprang from. "He's always so uptight and boring, not to mention cruel."

"Yeah." Sirius agreed, remembering that no one but the Marauders and Lily knew what he really meant. "And he just loves Snape, even though I'm better at potions than him. I mean Snape performs worse than I do, and Jareb never gets on him! It's always, 'Mr. Black, that was poor, but I can't say I'm disappointed.' I wish he'd be made to listen to crying mandrakes with no stupid pink ear muffs."

The table looked at Sirius with surprise. His rant had continued for much longer than had been intended.

"Here, Here." James tried, holding up his glass of pumpkin juice to Sirius's and tipping it. "Well said, mate."

A confused set of students began giving cheers around the table, repeating Sirius's last words, and giving each other confused glances.

James burst into laughter and Sirius cracked an unwilling smile.

"So what are you going to wear tomorrow for the big date?" asked Allison as she and Lily painted Ellie's nails.

"I was just going to where something casual. I haven't really thought about it." Lily replied as she put a coat of enamel on Ellie's left hand.

"You lie!" Ellie exclaimed, laughing as she sent the top of the nail polish flying from Allison's hand.

Allison sent her a warning look. "Hold still!"

"Well, I was thinking about a blue sweater and a pair of jeans, you know, it looks nice and it's casual."

"Make sure you put on some colorized accessories, you wouldn't want to look too blue." Allison suggested as she finished Ellie's hand. "But what you have planned sounds nice."

"Thank you." Lily replied in a light manner. "You're done, Ellie."

"Your turn, Lily!" Ellie exclaimed, jumping up with excitement.

James exhaled as he stood around his room on Saturday morning. He had gotten up early, showered and shaved, and had dressed in a relaxed shirt and pair of jeans with a cloak to go over once he got outside. He was staring around his room in a mix between nervousness, wonder, and astonishment. The day he had always dreamt about was here, and he wanted to make sure it was perfect.

Fifteen minutes later, he gave up on trying to make his hair lie flat, and was in the common room. He was trying to decide whether or not he should wait for Lily for breakfast. They hadn't really stated when they would meet for their date, and since they lived in the same dorm, it seemed polite to wait for Lily. But what if she had already gone to breakfast? He would wait up there all day and miss going to Hogsmeade and he would stand Lily up and blow the one chance he would ever have with Lily Evans.

In the middle of his mind-boggling rant, Lily appeared from her room, dressed and looking beautiful.

"Er, James?" she asked, as James was pacing by the fireplace and still unaware of her entrance.

"Oh, hi." he replied, startled from his trance. "Good morning, Lily."

She smiled at him and walked over. "Are you ready for breakfast? Or were you in the middle of something?"

James smiled back at her. "Let's go down to breakfast."

After a quick, high-spirited breakfast, Lily and James joined the groups of students, third years and above, of course, that made their way to the village of Hogsmeade.

"So what would you like to do today, Miss Evans?" James courteously asked as they reached the entrance of Hogsmeade and the snowy village lay in front of them.

"I'm not quite sure." Lily stated as they began to look into the windows of the shops. "Have any suggestions?"

"Well." James started, he did indeed, have a date planned out, but thought it only polite to ask Lily first. "How about we go to Honeydukes? That's always a favorite, although often clichéd first date activity."

"I don't care about clichés." Lily replied smiling all the same and grabbing James's hand. "I love chocolate!"

James laughed along with her, and enjoyed the warmness of Lily's hand interlocked with his.

They reached Honeydukes in time to have it packed with students. James guided Lily to the front of the store where the new creations were being displayed.

"Which one would you like to try?" asked the young woman behind the counter. "We have a new one called Chunky Caramel Chocolate Chip. I'd say it was quite a hit."

"Oh that sounds delicious!" exclaimed Lily.

"We'll take two to taste." James told the woman, who eagerly handed them each a piece of the new sweet.

They each took a bite of their own and tasted. James took one look at the look on Lily's face as she ate and smiled.

"We'll take a pound of this, please." requested James, with a grin on his face.

"You didn't have to do that, James." Lily replied, still smiling.

James laughed. "Oh, but I wanted to and I think you wanted me to, too."

After going around Honeydukes and sampling other treats, and daring each other to try the odd sweets, like cockroach clusters and blood pops (neither was able to take the other up on the dares, although James came awful close to licking a blood pop—if Lily hadn't stopped him he would have continued) the two decided to go around and window shop.

"All of that chocolate made me thirsty." James conversed, as he and Lily looked into the pet store. "Care for going to get a butterbeer?"

Lily smiled. "Sure. The Three Broomsticks?"

James nodded. "No place else."

He and Lily found an unusual nice seat in The Three Broomsticks, as every table was usually crowded with the many students and townspeople gossiping.

Madam Rosmerta came rushing over as soon as she caught a glimpse of James, one of her favorite customers, and a girl she never thought she would see him their with.

"Good afternoon, James." she greeted, smiling at them both. "What can I get you?"

"Hello, Madam Rosmerta, just two butterbeers for us, please." James replied politely.

"Coming right up." she smiled before going off and presumably getting the drinks.

"She seems to like you a lot." Lily said, smiling at James from across the table.

"Yeah, she really likes me and Sirius and Remus and Peter, I think she just gets a kick out of us." James replied. "She's a really nice lady."

"She is." agreed Lily as Madam Rosmerta appeared with their drinks and lay them on the table.

"James, I don't mean to be nosy." she started. "But this is Lily Evans you are sitting with."

James blushed and looked at Lily, who was grinning as she took a sip of butterbeer.

"Well, that's what she said her name was." James replied jokingly.

Madam Rosmerta beamed at them both and put a hand on James's head and ruffled his hair affectionately. "Why didn't you say so earlier. These drinks are on me!"

James laughed. "Thank-you."

"Tosh. No thanks needed." Madam Rosmerta shook her head and then turned her eyes to Lily. "Do you know that he and Sirius used to come in here for drinks, and alls I'd ever here out of James's mouth was how wonderful you were. These drinks are definitely on me."

Before waiting for either of them to respond, she walked off to help another customer.

Lily looked over at James, who was turning red and playing with the back of his neck. Lily giggled.

"Well as long as your affection gets us free drinks."

She and James burst into laughter before downing their free mugs of the warm butterbeer.

"It's only two o'clock." James stated as he and Lily walked down the street again.

"And I am stuffed." Lily replied while holding on to James's arm. "You realize Madam Rosemerta gave us about a whole pig's worth of ham sandwiches."

James rubbed his belly. "Only one?"

Lily laughed. "Can I show you something?"

James raised an eyebrow but smiled and nodded. "Sure."

"It's this really special place." Lily continued. "I don't think many people know about it."

James highly doubted that he wouldn't know about it. The Marauders had made many a night escapade through the village and as a result had discovered many locations that appeared uninhabited.

He let Lily guide him through streets until they were out of the village and viewing the countryside. She led him pass several barns, farm roads, and fields before leading him up a hill.

"Look." Lily ordered softly .

James looked out from the top of the hill. It truly was amazing, and he doubted he had seen anything with a view quite like this, even if he had stumbled on the area before. You could see the entire Hogsmeade village, and dozens of rolling hills and a few streams and meadows.

"It's prettier in the Spring, with the flowers." Lily stated after standing with James in the silence for a few minutes as they took in their surroundings. "But I like the blankets of snow, too."

"It's beautiful." James replied as he took in a breath. "It's so fresh up here."

"It's really pretty at night, with the lights." Lily added as she continued to look out.

"So that makes two times we'll have to come back." James replied, smiling down at her. "Once in the Spring and once at night."

Lily smiled back up at him. "Well at least twice."

They locked eyes. James stared into the intensity of Lily's green emeralds, and bent his head down, closer to her face—her lips, and he closed his eyes.

The kiss was unlike anything either one of them had ever felt before. It was soft, and warm and sent thousands of sparks through each other's veins. When the kiss ended, they pulled apart; feeling light headed and intoxicated in one another.

"That was amazing." James said looking out to the village again. Lily turned and stood beside him.

"It was." she replied, softly.

"We should head back. It's going to be quite a trek." James stated a few moments later.

"Yeah, it gets dark quickly out here." Lily agreed, following James back the path they had taken.

Upon returning to the much less crowded village, James found that he did not want this day with Lily to end.

"Would you like another butterbeer or hot chocolate or something before we head back?" offered James.

"I'd like that." replied Lily, who, like James did not want the date to end just yet.

They reached The Three Broomsticks to see it even more crowded than before, but instead of students there appeared to be a crowd of regular townspeople, and they didn't look too happy.

James looked at Lily. "I wonder what's going on in there."

"Only one way to find out." Lily replied, with uneasiness etched in her voice. Usually when crowds of magical folks got together these days it was about news or tragic events.

"Madam Rosmerta?" James called to the young bartender.

Madam Rosmerta looked at James with sad eyes, but she jumped up with relief. "James! Lily! Thank Merlin you're alright. What are you two still doing here?"

"What's going on?" James asked.

"They called the Hogwarts students back an hour ago, you really should be heading back, Professor Dumbledore will be so worried." she continued.

"What's going on?" James tried again, in a demanding voice.

"Dear, there was a Death Eater attack here not more than an hour and a half ago. Three villagers are dead." Madam Rosmerta replied, looking horribly sad as her eyes watered and her lips trembled. "Go back to school."

James turned around with a sad expression as he looked at Lily, and by the water gathering in her eyes, James could tell she had heard the news as well.

"We need to get back." she whispered, her lips trembling. James pulled her into a hug, and as he did so, he felt a few tears roll from her eyes to his shoulder.

"It'll be okay." James tried to comfort.

Lily broke away and wiped her eyes. "We've got to get back."

"Let's go." James replied, holding her hand. "I know a few shortcuts."

Fifteen minutes later, he and Lily were in the safety of the Gryffindor Common room. They were immediately bombarded by a hysterical Sirius, Allison, Ellie, Remus, and Peter, all looking as if their worst fears had been obliterated.

"Prongs!" Sirius exclaimed giving him a bear hug. "I was worried!" he broke away quickly and stepped back. "The Death Eaters attacked the village."

James nodded as he looked at Lily, who was being smothered by Allison and Ellie.

"Yeah, we were out on the countryside, and we wanted to stop at The Three Broomsticks for a drink, and we found out and came right here." James replied, unnerved by the whole situation.

"Did you happen to know how many?" Remus asked. "We're killed?"

James sighed. "They said three villagers. But you know these attacks. It's usually more than they actually tell you."

Remus nodded. "I'm glad you guys are alright, we were really worried sick when you two didn't show up when McGonagall and Dumbledore came to gather us."

"We're alright. I'd have to say this would have been one of the best days of my life." James said as he took a seat on the couch, soon to be joined by Lily, who had escaped the smothering of her friends.

"James we were so lucky to be out of Hogsmeade!" Lily said quietly. "I kind of wish we had been there though, we might have been able to do something. Those people are dead, and there will be no justice for them." she continued, and then, much to James's horror, burst into sobs.

As if a natural instinct, James reached his arms over and held her.

Much thanks to Lily Evans 4 Life, ZippyWings, MissMrprk, blufiresprite, WhiteCamellia, 2005girl, chikichiki for being WONDERFUL and reviewing!